Method of making wire-bound-box blanks.



Pabentedl NOV. 27, 1917.

W. P. HEALY.

METHOD OF MAKING WIRE BOUND BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. IBM.

imawm IZF J Pm K W. P. HEALY.

METHOD 'OF MAKING WIRE BOUND BOX BLANKS.

MPPLICATION FILED HEB. 8. I911.

Patented. NOV. 27, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. P. HEALY.

METHOD OF MAKING WIRE BOUND BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 191].

1 M: WM WM. H W M Q. m 1 P.

a MV 3% A QM. ME 1 W! unlform motion to the whereby the blank is UNKILED s'rnrns PATENT WILLIAM P. HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

WIREBOUNDS PATENTS COMPANY, OF KITTEEY, lvlAINE, A CORPOBATEON OF Mll lltl'lli.

METHOD OF MAKING WIRE-BOUND-IBOK BLANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lfatented Nov. 2t, 1191 t.

Original application filed May 9, 1910, Serial No. 560,307. Divided and this application filed February 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM P. HEALY,

a citizen of the United States of America,'

, which cleats are arranged end to end in two or more parallel rows. Ordinarily, the said blanks are made by providing blocks for separating the ends of the cleats, so that thematerials can be properly positioned While being secured together, and inmost cases the blank is moved along by communicating motion thereto through the medium of the spacing blocks, or by communicating cleats separately, carried or moved bodily along during the operation of securing the binding wires thereto. With this method, it has been the practice to separate the edges of the veneer, as it has been considered necessary to do this in order that the box when completed may be provided with what are ordinarily known as lapped corners-that is to to say, corners that are formed by lapping one sheet of veneer over and upon the edge of the adjacent sheet.

It has been found that the foregoing method is not only unnecessary, but is also very often unsatisfactory, as with such method the corners do not always lap tightly or accurately, as the blank has a tendency to stretch. With my improved method or process, therefore, the edges of the veneer are compressed or squeezed tightly together, and in fact the whole blank is subjected. to an endwise compressive force, during the operation of securing the sections of the.blank together, whereby the entire length thereof is slightly shortened. By compressing the edges of the veneer together, very tight and satisfactory corners are provided for the box, when the blank is Serial No. 607,448.

finally folded into shape, and any tendency on the part of the blank to stretch before it is folded, or while being folded, is offset by a slight expansion of the sections of the blank against each other, or toward each other, thus insuring a perfectly tight and satisfactory box after the blank has been folded and secured in place. Also, with my improved process or method, it is not neces sary to communicate motion to the cleats separately, as even when the cleats and sec tions of the blank are separated, as by loose spacing blocks, it still follows that the applicatlon of the propelling force only at the rear end of the blank is suificient to move the same along and keep it in a condition of longitudinal or endwise compression.

My invention contemplates, therefore, the assembling of the different sections of a wire bound blank in place, either with or without spacing blocks between the said sections, the application of a compressive force at one end of the blank, and the resisting or opposing of said force to place the entire blank temporarily under a longitudinal or endwise compression, and the fastening together of" the difi'erent sections while in this condition. If no spacing blocks are used between the sections of the blank, then the veneer may be fastened to the cleats by tacks or brads, or in any suitable manner, and in this way the edges of the veneer can be compressed or squeezed tightly together,-in the manner previously stated, and without the necessity of providing any other means for spacing apart the different sect-ions of the blank. In other words, the overhanging edges of the veneer will constitute the spacing means, being used in this way as a substitute for the ordinary spacing blocks or pins. Thus, and with my improved process, box blanks of this general character can be produced without using spacing devices.

My invention also contem lates, as direct result of said process, a 0X blank having the cleats spaced apart by the over hang of the, veneer. ltv further contemplates a box blank having the sections thereof wired together while crowded and held tightly together, whereby the blank is retained under endwise compression, more or less, by the bind ng wires, and whereby the wire from one section to another is under Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of a part alon til) of one of the guides for the cleats, and of one of the pushers for moving the materials showing the use of loose blocks between the ends of the cleats.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a different method of separating the cleats, and a different form-of gage for starting the new blank.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig.- 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the pushers that are moved by the chains to engage the rear end of each blank to carry the latter under the staplers.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the spacing blocks that may be employed when slight space is desired between the edges of the veneer.

Fig. 7 shows a blank with the spaces between the cleats staggered relative to the joints between the edges of the veneer, said joints being formed without any space between said edges.

Fig. 8'is an enlarged perspective of a portion of a difierent kind of blank, the ends of the cleats being rabbeted instead of stepmitered, this being a. well known form of blank and one which can be made on my improved machine by using a different and well known form of spacing block, or by omitting the said blocks altogether, as will be explained. 1

Fig. 9 shows a spacing block of the kind suitable for use in making the blank shown in Fig. 7. 1

As thus illustrated, the said machine comprises a frame or body A upon which the various operative parts are supported in suitably elevated positions. The staplers B are disposed in a row across the machine, and are operated by a suitably actuated cross head 5, in the usual and well lmown manner. The binding Wires C are fed below the staplers from spools or reels 0 in a manner which will be readily understood. The guides D and D extend longitudinally of the machine, below the two outside staplers, and are adapted to receive the cleats E and hold the latter in two parallel and longitudinally advancing rows. These guides are in the nature of channel irons, and the guide D is laterally adjustable to vary the width of the blanks. The machine-is provided at opposite ends with transverse shafts F and G having sprockets for the chains H and H which run .parallel and longitudinally of the machine. The upper portion of the chain H runs inside of the guide D and the chain H outside of-the guide D, being in substantially the same horizontal plane as said. guides. Said chains are connected by transverse bars I, which are called pushers, and which are provided with blocks 2' and a" that travel in the guides D and D to push the cleats and veneer along. The block a is adjustable on the bottom or inner side of the pusher in each case,'.so that it can be adjusted with the guide D for diilerent widths of blank. The machine. is long enough to accommodate a blank which is just starting under the staplers, and another which is fully laid and waiting for the next pusher. Out at the end of-the machine where the cleats and veneer are laid inplace, the guides D' and D are provided with fixed stops or gage pieces J, as shown in F ig. 2, which are of a height to let the pusher blocks 2' and 71' pass when the latter engage the rear end of the blank. The spacing blocks K are shown with this arrangement, which blocks are loose and slide along the guides with the cleats be? tween the ends of which they are interposed.

These blocks are step-mitered where they" pieces L for the guides are pivoted at Z and made high enough to engage the edge of the veneer, so that all four sheets of veneer can be laid and crowded up close together with out space between. In such case the blocks M are used between the cleats, and the gage L in each guide is depressed by the Pushers to enable the latter to pass and engage the rear end of the'newly laid blank. The gage L is then raised to normal position by the spring Z, or by any suitable means. Suitable clamps or guides N are provided and arranged to bear upon the blanks while they are traveling under the staplers. These clamps which keep the work from becoming displaced canobviously be made yielding to permit the pushers to pass below. Or the pusherscan be disposed in the same plane as the veneer, so that their tops are flush with. the upper surface of the blanks,in'which case the clamps N do not need to yield upward when the pushers pass under. If the guides engage the edges of the veneer, then the pusher-s move along the guides a little above the blanks; but if not, or if only one guide engages the edges of the veneer, then the pushers, or at least one end thereof, will travel in the same plane as the veneer. The clamps H can, therefore, be disposed to engage the tops of the blanks at any suitable tent feeding movement to carry the blanks between,

under the staplers. This feed mechanism is operated in any suitable manner. In addition there is a friction clutch P controlled by a lever 39' for accelerating the motion of the chains, causing the latter to move forward with a quick continuous motion when it is necessary tomake the new blank move faster -to catch up with the blank which has just been stapled.

In operation it will be understood that the laying of the first blank is started by placing a pair of cleats against the ga e pieces J or L, as the case may be. a s shown in Fig. 2, a block K is then placed against the end of each cleat, with the pro; jection is away therefrom. Then a sheet of veneer is laid on said cleats, and another pair of cleats placed against the said blocks, as shown. This operation is repeated until four sections are in place, care being taken to see that the blocks are all positioned alike, so that the formation at each joint will be the same as the others. When the pushers engage the rear end of theblank, the whole moves forward to the staplers. While this blank is being stapled, another is being laid behind it, and by the time the first blank is finished, another pusher I is ready to engage the new blank. It is at this time that the lever p can be used to effect a quick movement forward of the new blank, so that too much space or too long an interval will not occur between the blanks. If the guides have gage pieces L, (see Fig. 3), and if the blocks M are used, then the veneer is all crowded up together without space and a blank of the kind shown in Fig. 7 is made. The spaces between the ends of the cleats are staggered relatively to the joints between the edges of the veneer,

and this formation is uniform. "A blank of this kind can only be folded one way, and

no mistakes will blanks. The machine thus constructed can also be used without spacing blocks, by first tacking the veneer to the cleats. done'in any suitable manner, and the cleats and veneer thus preliminarily fastened tobe' made' in folding the gether can then be placed in the machine and secured together by the wires C, to make a blank like that shown in Fig. 7. In such case the edges of the veneer meet and one sheet or section pushes the other. The overhanging edges of the sheets serve to space the cleats apart endwise. As the tacks or brads are not necessary for the box,

but only as a part of the means for carrying out the method which dispenses with endWise compression,

This can be satisfactory the spacing blocks, it fllows that the same are, when thus used, as much a part of the machine as the spacing blocks are when used.

If desired, the form of cleats shown in Fig. Scan be used, and blanks made by any of the methods described above. Thus the machine will, Without any changes therein, work with cleats of different lengths, ad-

.justments only being necessary when the width of the blanks is changed. This can I be done quickly, and practically no time 15 the attendant or operator that sufficient space is left bet-ween the blanks, asfast as they are made, to provide the wires, afterthe blanks are cut apart, with endiportions which are long enough to be twisted together to close the box. In this connection it will be seen that the staplers are controlled by the usualfriction clutch, which latter is'in turn controlled by a hand lever Q in the well known manner. Thus the mechanism for moving the blanks along the guides can be controlled at will and the operation of the staplers can also be controlled at will. It will also be understood, of course, that when the veneer is preliminarily tacked to the cleats, by using tacks or brads, the gage pieces J- or L are then not necessary. In such case the sheets of veneer with the cleats secured thereto are simply laid in place in the guides, andthey are easily asembled together without using the said gage pieces. The latter can, however, be used, if suchis desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the result of any of the above described processes or methods of manufacturing the box blanks is .to place the entire blank under while it is being he tened together, so that the difife'rent sections of the blank are under more'or less compression, the compressive force tending to draw the two ends of the blank toward each other, producing a slight shortening thereof sothat the parts of the blank are secured stretches somewhat, as it is almost certain to do, such stretching will not objectionably increaseits length, and will not interfere with the forming of corners for the box. Of course, when the. sections are crowded and compressed tightly together, the tension on the wire will be retained'when the blank is flat, although this tension maytend to slightly dish theblank or make it curve when left perfectly tight and free. But this will not interfere with the folding of the blank around the end walls of the box.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The process of making a wire bound box blank, which consists ,in assembling the cleats and sheets of veneer together and in 'place, with the veneer fastened to the cleats to keep the, latter spaced apart endwise, when the sections thus formed are placed edge to edge, placing the sections together with the edges of the veneer engaging each other throughout the blank, applying a longitudinal compressive force at one end of the blank, opposing said force to tightly compress the said edges together, the said compression being communicated from one v sectionto another, and then successively fastoning the sections of the blank together, while the same are thus maintained under compression endwise of the blank, by progressively applying a flexible binder thereto.

2. The process of'making a wire bound box blank, which consists in assembling the cleats and sheets of veneer together and in place, placing the sections together with the edges of the veneer engaging each other throughout the blank, applying a longitudinal compressive force at one end of the blank, opposing said. force to tightly compress the said edges together, the said compresslon being communicated from .one sec tion to another, and then successively fastening the sections of the blank together, while the same are thus maintained under compression endwise of the blank, by progressively applying a flexible bmder thereto.

3. The process of making a wire bound b'ox blank, which consists in assembling together the cleats and sheets of veneer of a blank, applying a longitudinally compres-. sive fpree to one end of the blank, the said compression being communicated from one section to another, opposing said force at the other end of the blank, to place the sections thereof under compression and shorten the blank, andthen fastening the sections together while thus maintained under com 'pression endwise of theblank', by applying a flexible binder thereto.

4. The process of making a box blank, which includes the reliminary fastening of the sheets to the o eats to form blank sections with the sheets overhanging the ends of the cleats, placing in juxtaposition the sections thus formed using the'overhanging edges of lillB'SllQGllS to space the cleats apart endwise, maintaining the juxtaposed sections under longitudinal compression coinmunicated from one section to another and applying a flexible binder to successively connect the sections of the blank together by a. plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, using said binder to keep the blank under the longitudinal compression communicated from one section to the other.

5. The process of making a wire bound box blank, which consists in fastening side material to the cleats, with the side material overhanging the ends of the cleats, arranging the cleats end to end in parallel rows, using said overhanging side material the cleats, with the edges of said strips overhanging the ends of the cleats, arranging the cleats end to end in parallel rows, using the said overhanging edges to keep the ends of the cleats separated or spaced apart, maintaining the strips under longitudinal compression communicated, from one strip to another, and successively wiring the cleatstogether while. thus maintained in proper relation, usingsaid binder to keep the blank under the longitudinal compression. communicated positively from. one section to the other. l

7;. The process of making a wire bound box blank consist-ingoffour sections, which includes applying a forward pressure to the rear end only of the blank and succes sively wiring together the four sections of the blank by a, plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, each intermediate sect-ion being wired while subject to compression by the opposed pressures of the. sections in the front and rear thereof resulting from the forward pressure applied to'the rear end of the blank.

8. The process of making a wire bound box blank which includes the successive wiring together of the cleats of the blank in parallel rows by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank in such manner that each cleat of a row except the last is wired while acted upon by a force tending to press it forward toward the cleat in advance thereof, said pressurebeingdue to a forward pressure by pushing the latter against the former,

and successively wiring together the sections of the blank by a plurality of alternate 'ipasnia fastening and feeding operations, each section except the last being Wired while subject to such compression,

10..' The process of making a wire bound s box blank, comprising the successive Wiring together by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, of the several sections of each blank, and causing each succeeding section to engage and push forward against the previous section, whilethe same are being wired together. 11. The process of making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wiring together by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, of the several sections of each blank, and causing each succeeding section to engage and push forward against the previous section, while. the same are being wired together, using the edge portions of the sections to prevent the cleats from engaging at their ends.

box blank, comprising the successive wiring together by a plurality of alternate feeding 1 and fastening operations for each blank, of

edge only of each section, to prevent the cleats from engaging at their ends.

18. The process of making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wiring together by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, of the several sections of each blank, mainto taining the ends of the cleatsa distance apart, and holding the sections in position during the wiring operation, by pressure at the rear end only of said blank.

14. The process of making a wire bound as box blank, comprising the successive wiring V together by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, of the several sections of each blank, maintaining the ends of the cleats a distance: to apart by causing the veneer to overhang the.

ends of the cleats, and holding the sections in position during the Wiring operation, by

pressure applied at the rear end only of said blank.

15. The processof making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wiring together by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, of the several sections of each blank, maintaining the ends of the cleats a distance apart, and holding the sections in position during the wiring operation, by pressure applied at the rear end only of said blank,

the sheets and cleats being held together he against relative displacement.

12. The process of making a wire bound 16.- The process-of making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wlring Y of theseveral sections of the blank together,

tening operations for each blank, with separate cleats for each section, using the cleats to support the sheets, and using means integral with each section for insuring the proper end to end relation of the cleats during the wiring operation.

18. The process of making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wiring together of previously unconnected sections, by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, with separate cleats for each section, using the cleats to support the sheets, and using means integral with each section for insuring the. proper end to end relation of the cleats during the wiring operation, the said means including a portion which extends beyond the cleats of one section'into direct contact with the next section.

V 19. The process of making a wire bound box blank, comprising the successive wiring together of previously unconnected'sections, by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, with separate cleats for each section, using the cleats to support the sheets, and using means integral with each section for insuring the proper end to end relation of the cleats during the wiring operation, the said means being subject to compression by the crowding together of the sections.

20. The process of making a wire bound box blank, by the wiring together of previously unconnected sections, with separate, cleats for each section, comprising the step of maintaining the entire blank under longitudinal compression, by pressure transmitted from one section to the other, during the said wiring operation.

21; The process of making a wire bound box blank, by the wiring together of previously unconnected sections, with separate cleats for each section, comprising the step of maintaining the entire blank under longi- 125 tudinal compression, by pressure transmitted from one section to the other, during the said wiring operation, and by direct contact be tween the edges of the sections.

22. The process of making a "Wire bound box blank, by the successive wiring together of previously unconnected sections, with separate cleats for each section, comprising the step of communicating pressure through each succeeding section to the one ahead, during the Wiring operation.

23. The process ofmaking a wire bound box blank, by. the successive wiring together cleats and side material for each sectlon in' relatively fixed relation, and successively wiring together the previously unconnected sections by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations 11 each blank while the said relation thereto of the side material prevents the wiring operation from causing relative endwise displacement of the cleats.

25. The process of making a wire bound box blank, by the wiring together of pre- .viously unconnected sections, by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank, with separate cleats and side material for each section, characterized by using means integral with the sections for ultimately insuring the desired overhang of the sheets and spaces between the ends of the cleats when the blank is finished, 9 I

26. The process of making a wire bound box blank, by the wiring together of previously unconnected sections, by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening opera- .tion to push directly against another section'.

27. The process of making a wire bound box blank, by the wiring together of previously unconnected sections, by a plurality of alternate feeding and fastening operations for each blank with separate cleats and side material for each section, characterized by using means integral with the sections for ultimately insuring the desired overhang of the sheets and spaces between the ends of the cleats when the blank is finished, and maintaining the bindin wires under tension by advancement of tie sections.

28. The process of ma king a wire bound box blank comprising the following steps:

securing side material for the respective mer overhanging the latter thus .making side sectlons, subyectmg aseries of side sections to compression from the ends of the series to bring the edges of the side" ma terial and the ends of the cleats into cooperative foldable relationship, and securing binding wires thereto while they are so sides to the respective cleats with the for- 

